Single gun, multi-screen, multi-beam, multi-color cathode ray tube

ABSTRACT

A single cathode ray tube envelope having a plurality of phosphor screen areas thereon providing a plurality of individual screens contained in a single glass envelope. Multiple beams are provided from a single electron gun construction having a single cathode, a single control grid panel, a first anode panel, and either a deflection yoke or a deflector plate assembly. A number of electron beams are thereby produced corresponding to the number of individual phosphor screens, and the screens may have phosphors of different colors for producing distinctive color images at the different screens, or regular color t.v. images on one or more of the individual screens, without the use of a shadow-mask.

[ Dec. 23, 1975 Primary Examiner-Robert Segal Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A single cathode ray tube envelope having a plurality of phosphor screen areas thereon providing a plurality of individual screens contained in a single glass envelope. Multiple beams are provided from a single electron gun construction having a single cathode, a single control grid panel, a first anode panel, and either a deflection yoke or a deflector plate assembly. A number of electron beams are thereby produced corresponding to the number of individual phosphor screens, and the screens may have phosphors of different colors for producing distinctive color images at the different MULTI-BEAM, MULTI-COLOR CATHODE RAY TUBE [76] Inventor: Adrian W. Standaart, 5 Bonbrook Circle, Winston-Salem, NC. 27106 Filed: Nov. 23, 1971 Appl. No.: 201,460

US. Cl. 313/411; 313/413; 313/470 [51] Int. H01J 29/50; H01J 31/20 Field of 313/69 C, 70 C References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Standaart 1 SINGLE GUN, MULTI-SCREEN,

screens, or regular color t.v. images on one or more of the individual screens, without the use of a shadowmask.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 313/69 C 313/70 C 313/69 R Schlesinger Starr Du Mont et al.

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,928,785

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,928,785

l lgs US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,928,785

IlgJ-A SINGLE GUN, MULTI-SCREE'N, MULTI-BEAM, MULTI-COLOR CATHODE RAY TUBE BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to cathode ray tubes, and more particularly to a cathode ray tube construction wherein a single electron gun is provided in a single glass envelope having a plurality of individual phosphor screen areas on the faceplate, wherein a number of electron beams equal to the number of individual screens are produced, each of which beams may be individually controlled to provide different images on the different screens.

A number of advantages arise from being able to provide a plurality of individual visual displays on phosphor screens or individual phosphor screen areas disposed close to each other for monitoring or viewing by a single observer. For example, cathode ray tube readouts from telemetry or sensing apparatus wherein the displays on different screens or screen areas are in distinctive colors, for example green for one screen, yellow for another screen, and red for another screen, can be useful in displaying certain information because of the color of the phosphor in the particular screen and thus the color of the image produced. Also, it is possible to provide plural screens, such as a two to six screen cathode ray tube, with the image on each screen being derived from a different television station or closed circuit television camera, to permit the viewer to simultaneously monitor two or more television images. The plurality of screens and electron-beams is also advantageous for oscilloscope wave-form displays, since as many as six individual inputs can be simultaneously viewed without time-sharing or electronic switching.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel multi-screen, multi-beam cathode ray tube having a single glass envelope and a single electron gun capable of producing a plurality of separate electron beams which are individually controlled and correspond in number to a plurality of phosphor screens for producing plural individual images. For example, two or three beams in a single horizontal row can be provided for producing images on two or three horizontally spaced phosphor screen areas on the faceplate, to provide two or three separate images. As another example, two vertically spaced rows of three separate electron beams each, all derived from a single electron gun, can be provided to activate and produce images on two vertically spaced rows of three phosphor screen areas each, thus providing six different phosphor screens in a single cathode raytube glass envelope. Another example enables intermixing of single electron-beams, in a single horizontal row, with multiple (3) electron-beams on a verticalaxis for color TV images on one or more. tri-colo'r phosphor screens, composed of horizontally distributed strips, approximately 0.010 to 0.018 inches wide, of'color producing phosphors in Magenta, Cyan and Green illumination or fluorescence.

Another object of the present invention 'is the provision of anovel electron gun construction for cathode ray tubes capable of producing one or'more vertically spaced rows of one or more electron beams each, each of which electron beams may be individually convertical electrostatic deflection plates supported on a single electron gun frame structure with a first anode and grid panels and a single cathode structure.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-screen kinescope cathode ray tube construction having a single electron gun, embodying the present invention, capable of producing three side-by-side separate screen images;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a multi-screen cathode ray tube constructed in accordance with the present invention having a single electron gun and providing six separate phosphor screen areas on the faceplate;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of the multi-screen cathode ray tube of FIG. 2, taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the electron gun used with the cathode ray tube of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of the electron gun;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a portion of a tri-color phosphor screen which may be employed to produce a tri-color image; and

FIG. 7A is an elevation view of the screen grid and first anode hole pattern for a six screen tube having a tri-color screen as the center screen of the top row.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the multi-screen, multi-beam cathode ray tube of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 10 and comprises a single glass envelope having an elongated neck section 11, a faceplate section 12 of larger cross-section than the neck section 11 terminating in the front faceplate 13. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the front faceplate 13 instead of having a single phosphor target area, has three phosphor target areas indicated at 14A, 14B and 14C disposed in side-by-side relation alined along a horizontal axis collectively spanning the width of the faceplate 13. In one particular example, the screen 14A could be of a phosphor which produces red light, the screen 148 could be of a phosphor which produces yellow light, and the screen 14C of a phosphor which produces green light. If the cathode ray tube were used as a telemetry readout in connection with missile launching, the appearance of an image on the green producing phosphor screen 14C would indicate that everything was in satisfactory condition, the presence of an image on the yellow phosphor producing' screen 14B could indicate a caution condition, and an imageon the red phosphor producing screen 14A could indicate a hold condition or a danger condition. Typically, the faceplate may be provided with outwardly protruding depressions, as illustrated at 24C and 24E in FIG. 4, corresponding to the size of each of the screen areas, with the phosphor eeating on the flat surface at the base of the depression defining the inner surface of the glass envelope, and the inner surface of the faceplate and adjoining glass envelope portions could then be coated with a reflecting aluminum coating in accordance with standard practices in the industry.

The electron gun assembly for this cathod ray tube is indicated generally at and is located in the rear portion of the glass neck section 11, and the usual deflection yoke 16 to effect magnetic deflection of the electron beams surrounds the neck portion 11 in accordance with standard practice. The electron gun 15 is of the multi-beam type, to be later described in detail, which in this embodiment produces three laterally alined individual electron beams, schematically indicated at 17A, 17B and 17C in FIG. 1.

Another embodiment of the multi-screen, multibeam cathode ray tube construction is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and comprises a glass envelope having an elongated neck section 21, a faceplate section 22 of larger cross-section than the neck section terminating in the front faceplate 23. In this embodiment, the front faceplate 23 carries six different phosphor target areas, indicated at 24A to 24F inclusive formed in two rows of three phosphor screen areas each. The six phosphor screen areas 24A-24F may be formed conveniently of forwardly projecting depressions in the front faceplate, shown at 24C and 24F in FIG. 4, in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the phosphor material deposited on the inner surface of the flat base wall of each depression. In one preferred example, the phosphors for the various screens 24A to 24F may be selected so that the screens 24A, B and C respectively reproduce in green, red and blue, and the lower row of screens 24D, E and F reproduce in white, yellow and orange. If desired, of course, one or more of the screens may be a screen producing a composite color image formed of three basic phosphor colors as is customary in color television.

The electron gun for the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is indicated by the reference character 25 and is designed to produce six separate electron beams, one for each of the phosphor screens 24A to 24F. If one of the screens, for example the screen 24B, were to be a color screen formed of three constituent colors, of course three electron beams would be required for this particular screen, which should be vertically spaced, and the tricolor phosphor should be deposited in horizontal strips as indicated at 24B-1, 24B-2 and 248-3 in FIG. 7 forming alternating bands of tri-color phosphor strips. The phosphor strip for each constituent color is scanned by its own assigned beam, as later described, thereby eliminating the shadow mask. For example, the strips 24B-l, 24B-2 and 24B-3 may be green, magneta and cyan phosphors, respectively.

The details of construction of the electron gun for the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 4 are illustrated in FIG. 5, which incorporates electrostatic deflection plates in the electron gun assembly for vertical and horizontal deflection and sweeping of the associated electron beam. The electron gun assembly for multiscreen, multi-beam cathod ray tubes having a magnetic deflection yoke will be of similar construction but will not incorporate the electrostatic deflection plate components.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the electron gun includes a cathode generally indicated at 27, a control grid generally indicated at 28, a first anode 29,

and an array of accelerating anode tubes 31 and focusing anodes 30 supported between ceramic supporting plates 32, 33. These elements are all preassembled on a supporting framework, generally indicated by longitudinally extending frame members 34 which support the rectangular, panel like members 28, 29, 32 and 33, so that the entire assembly can be inserted as a unit in the neck section of the cathode ray tube during manufacture.

As will be seen particularly from FIG. 5, the cathode 27 is formed from a pair of sheet members, such as nickel sheet members 35, 36, each having one or more parallel outwardly projecting rib or channel formations 35A, 36A having outwardly convergent, similarly inclined sides and a flat outer wall paralleling the main plane of the cathode, giving the channels a truncated isosceles triangular configuration. If a single horizontal row of plural electron beams is required, as where the plurality of phosphor screen areas are all horizontally alined in side-by-side relation as in FIG. 1, only a single channel formation is needed for the pair of sheet members 35, 36 forming the cathode. If two horizontal rows of plural electron beams are needed, as with the six screen areas of the cathode ray tube illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, then two of such oppositely directed channel formations would be provided for each of the sheet members 35, 36 extending along parallel horizontal axes spanning the full width of the cathode 27. The sheets 35 and 36 are assembled at each end, and between each of the elongated channel formations, by spot welding, thereby providing a most rigid and stable cathode design. The filament windings are formed of spiral tungsten filaments 27F, insulated by an insulating layer of high temperature ceramic such as alumina or fused aluminum oxide. This honeycomb design produced by the assembled sheets 35 and 36 having the outwardly projecting channel formations provides maximum resistance to heat warpage from heating the cathode to operating temperatures, thus assuring that the flat front face, indicated at 35B, will remain parallel to the control grid for maximum efficiency of electron emission. To provide high electron emission from the cathode structure, the cathode flat areas 358 are coated by spray, paint, or electrophoretic deposits of standard cathode material, such as that referred to commercially as Tri-Carbonate, which is protected from atmosphere poisioning by a layer of organic lacquer until the cathode ray tube is activated in the final fabrication stages. The rectangular parallel cathode surfaces 35B on which the cathode material is deposited are of sufficient axial length, extending from one end of the cathode to the other, to assure maximum electron emission from as many as seven controllable grid apertures at a current density to enable each electron beam to develop to microamperes of current. The honeycomb structure herein described lends itself to rapid manufacture and ease of fabrication by machine stamping or die rolling.

The control grid, indicated by reference character 28, in the preferred embodiment is in the general configuration of a rectangular panel, similar to the panel or substrate for a printed circuit board, having a plurality of holes or apertures 28A arranged in a row or plural rows alined with the center axes of the flat or flats 35B of the cathode carrying the cathode material. Only a single row of three holes 28A are required for a three screen tube as shown in FIG. 1, while two rows of three holes 28A are employed for the six screen tube of FIG.

2. lf a three electron-beam combination is employed for color television, the vertical spacing of the grid apertures span a single horizontal channel of the cathode formation. An example of the hole pattern for the control grid and first anode for such a six screen tube is shown in FIG. 7A, illustrating three vertically spaced holes 28A-l, 28A-2 and 28A-3 for providing three beams for screen 248. The beams for the holes 28A-1, 28A-2 and 28A-3 are scanned horizontally along their respective phosphor strips 248-], 248-2 and 243-3 to produce a tri-color image without a shadow mask. In one example, the phosphor is deposited in strips of about 0.018 inch widths with a 0.002 inch space between strips and the holes 28A-1, 28A-2 and 28A-3 may be 0.010 inch diameter holes spaced on 0.020 inch centers. In such a case, the holes in the first anode, for the three color beams for screen 248, should be individually controlled as in the control grid. The ceramic substrate is provided with the grid apertures, having an initial or unplated diameter in one example of 0.01 184 inches, each aperture having a stepped entrance and exit end formed by an annular slightly larger cross-section aperture portion at the entrance and exit ends, as illustrated and described in my earlier patent application entitled MULTl-BEAM CATHODE RAY TUBE CONSTRUCTION, filed Aug. 18, 1971, Ser. No. 172,756. The ceramic substrate is provided with a goldplating, in such example, formed by first applying an initial thickness of approximately 1,000 angstrom units of gold by a vacuum process known as sputtering. This sputtered gold layer is applied to both surfaces of the substrate and to the inside walls of the grid apertures 28A to assure firm adhesion of the electroplated metallic gold to the ceramic substrate. The control grid substrate is then electroplated to increase the thickness of the gold to 0.001 inch (or 0.025 millimeters). Alternatively, copper may first be applied to the ceramic substrate, after which the substrate is then electroplated with nickel to provide a thickness of about 0.001 inch.

After electroplating the control grid, it may then be givena coating of a photosensitive etch resist, such as Eastman-Kodak Company's KPR or KMER or KTFR resist. This photosensitive etch resist is then exposed to a precision glass photographic plate containing a negative image of the control apertures and the attachment metal paths desired from the apertures to connecting terminals at the edge of the plate 28, and the resist is then processed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations to etch away the unwanted metal gold.

The first anode 29 is similar to the control grid 28 in that the ceramic substrate may be of the identical size and design as the control grid substrate and is likewise provided with apertures 29A corresponding in number and location to the apertures 28A in the control grid. However, where the control grid 28 contains six individual conductive attachment paths, where six apertures 28A are provided, leading to grid connections at the edges of the control grid, the first anode 29 has the surface facing away from the control grid, or. toward the target, provided with a layer of metallic gold like the one provided on the control grid before etching, with the layer of metallic gold on the first anode being broken only by the beam apertures 29A. The other surface of the first anode 29, which faces the control grid, contains no gold except for a rim around the apertures about 0.001 inch wide.

Immediately forwardly, or toward the faceplate, from the first anode 29, are the cylindrical focusing anodes 30 for each beam, alined with the axes of the control grid apertures 28A and first anode apertures 29A, and a companion accelerating anode 31. Each pair of a focusing anode 30 and an accelerating anode 31 may be formed of a pair of metallic tubes spaced along a common axis and electrically isolated from each other, with the rearmost end of the focusing anode tube 30 fixed in an opening of corresponding diameter in the ceramic supporting plate 32, while the forward end of the accelerating anode tube 31 is similarly supported in a correspondingly sized opening in the ceramic supporting plate 33.

Forwardly of the assembly of the focusing anode tubes 30 and accelerating anodes 31 are the electrostatic deflector plates for each beam. These electro' static deflector plates in the illustrated embodiment comprise vertical deflector plates 40 and horizontal deflector plates 41 for each beam defining a tube of rectangular cross-section surrounding the beam. The plates 40 and 41 flare outwardly from the associated beam at the end nearest the faceplate, and are electrically isolated from each other and supported from the outer elongated frame members 34 and the interior elongated frame members 34A. These frame members may be glass supporting rods having pins which extend inwardly to and join the respective elements which they support.

By reason of the above construction, the honeyeombed cathode design provides a flat surface bearing the cathode emission material which is spaced the same distance from each of the grid apertures 28A to insure uniform electron emission for each of the electron beams and minimum cathode distortion from filament heat. The control grid 28 and first anode 29 employing metallic gold provide a non-oxidizing or tarnishing metal conductor capable of maintaining excellent conductivity and provide freedom from prefabrication oxidation an ability to remain stable at tube fabrication or operating temperatures. The accelerating anode tubes 30 and focusing anode tubes 31, and the horizontal and vertical deflector plates 40 and 41 when electrostatic deflection is required, are rigidly supported from the elongated glass frame members 34, 34A and the ceramic panels 32, 33, all collectively providing an electron gun construction which is capable of producing a number of electron beams of equal intensity in a most efficient manner, and which provides improved properties and manufacturing capabilities. By use of such an electron gun construction in a single glass envelope with a faceplate having a plurality of phosphor target screens, individual electron beams for each of the screens are provided in an efficient manner by a single electron gun permitting great flexibility in the type of display which can be accomplished with the cathode ray tube.

The arrangement of successive groups of three vertically spaced hori'zontal strips of tri-color phosphor, such as shown at 2413-1, 2411-2 and 2413-3 in FlG. 7, for the screen 2411, may be used for the screen of a singlescreen cathode ray tube, to produce a tri-color image for color television receivers and the like. In that case, the control grid and first anode would simply have three vertically spaced holes each, sized and arranged relative to each other like the holes 28A-l, 28A-2 and 28A-3 of HG. 7A. Only a single channel formation, providing a cathode flat area 3511, would be needed for 7 the cathode, with the three holes in the grid spanning or located in overlying relation to the cathode flat channel formation 35B. Such a tube would not require the conventional shadow mask. The holes in the first anode should be individually controlled, however, as in the control grid.

What is claimed is:

l. A single gun, multi-screen, multi-beam, multicolor cathode ray tube construction for producing visible images comprising a glass envelope including a neck portion and a faceplate portion, said faceplate portion having a plurality of individual phosphor screens arranged serially along a reference axis in at least one rectilinear row over the area of said faceplate portion, each said screen being adapted to produce an image for direct viewing, upon electron-activation of the phosphors, a single electron gun within said neck portion for producing a plurality of electron beams at least equalling in number the number of screens, said electron gun including a single cathode having a narrow elongated flat strip surface for each said row with its longitudinal center axis paralleling said reference axis and lying in a transverse plane transversely spanning the cathode and facing the screens, a coating of electron emission material on said flat strip surface which is thermally activated to emit electrons for forming the electron beams, control grid and first anode elements in spaced planes paralleling the plane of said flat strip surface and each comprising a single planiform non-conductive panel member each having a hole for each of the respective electron beams lined with conductive material for controlling and shaping the electrons emitted by the cathode into the beams, the holes in said grid and first anode elements for each respective electron beam being axially alined along a beam axis substantially perpendicular to said strip surface, said cathode comprising a pair of metallic sheet members joined along a common plane transverse and perpendicular to said beam axis, each having outwardly projectin-truncated V-shaped channel formations collectively defining a six-sided channel of substantially honeycomb configuration in cross-section with one side paralleling said common plane forming said strip surface and alined respectively with said holes in said control grid and anode elements, the channel housing filament wire along the length thereof in a coil concentric with the axis of the channel and closed adjacent the walls thereof, and accelerating anode means for accelerating the electrons in said beams toward said phosphor screens, said cathode, grid and anode elements being rigidly supported in a unitary assembly.

2. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said control grid is formed of a rectangular non-conductive substrate panel having said holes therethrough alined respectively with said flat strip surface, said control grid having an electrically conductive layer of deposited material lining each of the holes communicating with like deposited conductive material arranged in a photo-etched pattern of conductive paths connecting the hole linings to edge terminals for applying selected potentials to the lining material for individual control of the electron beams.

3. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 2, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.

4. A cathod ray tube construction as defined in claim 3, including pairs of horizontal and vertical deflecting plates forming rectangular crosssection tubular formations about each respective electron beam and supported in forwardly projecting relation from the forwardmost of said supporting panels.

5. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 1, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.

6. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 5, including pairs of horizontal and vertical deflecting plates forming rectangular cross-section tubular formations about each respective electron beam and supported in forwardly projecting relation from the forwardmost of said supporting panels.

7. A single gun, multi-screen, multi-beam, multicolor cathode ray tube construction for producing visible images comprising a glass envelope including a neck portion and a faceplate portion, said faceplate portion having a plurality of individual phosphor screens arranged serially along a pair of vertically spaced parallel reference axes in a pair of vertically spaced horizontal rows of at least two screens each over the area of said faceplate portion, each screen being adapted to produce an image for direct viewing upon electro-activation of the phosphor, a single electron gun within said neck portion for producing a plurality of electron beams at least equalling in number the number of screens, said electron bun including a single cathode having a narrow, elongated flat strip surface for each said row tith its longitudinal axis paralleling said reference axes lying in a transverse plane transversely spanning the cathode and facing the screens, a coating of electron emission material on said flat strip surface which is thermally activated to emit electrons for forming the electron beams, control grid and first anode elements in spaced planes paralleling the plane of said flat strip surface and each comprising a single planiform non-conductive panel member each having a hole for each of the respective electron beams lined with conductive material for controlling and shaping the electrons emitted by the cathode into the beams, the holes in said grid and first anode elements for each respective electron beam being axially alined along a beam axis substantially perpendicular to said strip surface, said cathode comprising a pair of metallic sheet members joined along a common plane perpendicular to the beam axis, each having two outwardly projecting truncated V-shaped channel formations collectively defining a pair of vertically spaced, six-sided channels of substantially honeycomb configuration in cross-section with a corresponding side of each channel paralleling said common plane in another plane and forming two of said flat strip surfaces which are alined respectively with said holes in said control grid and anode elements, the channels housing filament wire along the length thereof in a cylindrical coil closely adjacent the channel walls concentric with the axis of the channel, and accelerating anode means for accelerating the electrons in said beams toward said phosphor screens, said cathode grid and anode elements being rigidly supported in a unitary assembly.

8. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 7, wherein said control grid and first anode are each formed of a rectangular non-conductive substrate panel having holes therethrough alined with the axes of each of the respective beams to be formed, lined with an electrically conductive layer of deposited material, the panels being disposed in parallelism with each other and with said flat surface portions and the control grid having a deposited layer of conductive material arranged in a photo-etched pattern of conductive paths communicating with the hole linings for application of separate distinctive control voltages to the linings of the respective holes therein.

9. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 8, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective electron beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with each said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.

10. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 7, wherein said control grid is formed of a rectangular nonconductive substrate panel having said holes therethrough alined respectively with said flat surface portion, said control grid having electrically conductive deposited material lining the holes and connected by photo-etched conductor strips to edge terminals for applying selected potentials to the lining material for individual control of the electron beams.

11. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 7, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective electron beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with each said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming 10 common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.

12. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 11, including pairs of horizontal and vertical deflecting plates forming rectangular cross-section tubular formations about each respective electron beam and supported in forwardly projecting relation from the forwardmost of said supporting panels.

13. A cathode ray kinescope tube construction for producing tri-color visible images without a shadow mask, comprising a glass envelope including a neck portion and a faceplate portion, said faceplate portion having a phosphor screen formed of successive vertically arranged horizontal bands each comprising three vertically spaced horizontal strips of a first, second and third color producing phosphor, a single electron gun within said neck portion for producing three electron beams for the three color producing phosphors respectively, said electron gun including a single cathode comprising a pair of joined metallic sheet members each having a plurality of outwardly projecting truncated V-shaped formations collectively defining plural six-sided channels of substantially honeycomb configuration in side elevation providing an elongated, narrow rectilinear planiform flat face paralleling said phosphor screen and spanning the width of the cathode, the channel formation housing a coiled filament wire along the length thereof closely conforming to the cross-section of the channels, a coating of electron emission material on said flat face which is thermally activated to emit electrons for forming the electron beams, control grid and first anode elements in spaced planes paralleling the plane of said flat face and each having three vertically spaced holes providing a hole for each of the respective electron beams for controlling and shaping the electrons emitted by the cathode into three vertically spaced beams to scan along their associated respective phosphor strips, the holes in said grid and first anode elements for each respective electron beam being axially alined along an axis substantially perpendicular to said flat face, electrically conductive material about said holes, means for applying selected electrical potentials to said conductive material for the individual holes, and accelerating anode means for accelerating the electrons in saidbeams toward said phosphor screens.

14. A cathode ray tube as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said strips has a width of about 0.018 inch and is spaced about 0.0020 inch from its adjacent strips. 

1. A single gun, multi-screen, multi-beam, multi-color cathode ray tube construction for producing visible images comprising a glass envelope including a neck portion and a faceplate portion, said faceplate portion having a plurality of individual phosphor screens arranged serially along a reference axis in at least one rectilinear row over the area of said faceplate portion, each said screen being adapted to produce an image for direct viewing, upon electron-activation of the phosphors, a single electron gun within said neck portion for producing a plurality of electron beams at least equalling in number the number of screens, said electron gun including a single cathode having a narrow elongated flat strip surface for each said row with its longitudinal center axis paralleling said reference axis and lying in a transverse plane transversely spanning the cathode and facing the screens, a coating of electron emission material on said flat strip surface which is thermally activated to emit electrons for forming the electron beams, control grid and first anode elements in spaced planes paralleling the plane of said flat strip surface and each comprising a single planiform non-conductive panel member each having a hole for each of the respective electron beams lined with conductive material for controlling and shaping the electrons emitted by the cathode into the beams, the holes in said grid and first anode elemEnts for each respective electron beam being axially alined along a beam axis substantially perpendicular to said strip surface, said cathode comprising a pair of metallic sheet members joined along a common plane transverse and perpendicular to said beam axis, each having outwardly projectin truncated V-shaped channel formations collectively defining a six-sided channel of substantially honeycomb configuration in cross-section with one side paralleling said common plane forming said strip surface and alined respectively with said holes in said control grid and anode elements, the channel housing filament wire along the length thereof in a coil concentric with the axis of the channel and closed adjacent the walls thereof, and accelerating anode means for accelerating the electrons in said beams toward said phosphor screens, said cathode, grid and anode elements being rigidly supported in a unitary assembly.
 2. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said control grid is formed of a rectangular non-conductive substrate panel having said holes therethrough alined respectively with said flat strip surface, said control grid having an electrically conductive layer of deposited material lining each of the holes communicating with like deposited conductive material arranged in a photo-etched pattern of conductive paths connecting the hole linings to edge terminals for applying selected potentials to the lining material for individual control of the electron beams.
 3. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 2, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.
 4. A cathod ray tube construction as defined in claim 3, including pairs of horizontal and vertical deflecting plates forming rectangular cross-section tubular formations about each respective electron beam and supported in forwardly projecting relation from the forwardmost of said supporting panels.
 5. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 1, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.
 6. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 5, including pairs of horizontal and vertical deflecting plates forming rectangular cross-section tubular formations about each respective electron beam and supported in forwardly projecting relation from the forwardmost of said supporting panels.
 7. A single gun, multi-screen, multi-beam, multi-color cathode ray tube construction for producing visible images comprising a glass envelope including a neck portion and a faceplate portion, said faceplate portion having a plurality of individual phosphor screens arranged serially along a pair of vertically spaced parallel reference axes in a pair of vertically spaced horizontal rows of at least two screens each over the area of said faceplate portion, each screen being adapted to produce an image for direct viewing upon electro-activation of the phosphor, a single electron gun within said neck portion for producing a plurality of electron beams at least equalling in number the number of screens, said electron bun including a single catHode having a narrow, elongated flat strip surface for each said row tith its longitudinal axis paralleling said reference axes lying in a transverse plane transversely spanning the cathode and facing the screens, a coating of electron emission material on said flat strip surface which is thermally activated to emit electrons for forming the electron beams, control grid and first anode elements in spaced planes paralleling the plane of said flat strip surface and each comprising a single planiform non-conductive panel member each having a hole for each of the respective electron beams lined with conductive material for controlling and shaping the electrons emitted by the cathode into the beams, the holes in said grid and first anode elements for each respective electron beam being axially alined along a beam axis substantially perpendicular to said strip surface, said cathode comprising a pair of metallic sheet members joined along a common plane perpendicular to the beam axis, each having two outwardly projecting truncated V-shaped channel formations collectively defining a pair of vertically spaced, six-sided channels of substantially honeycomb configuration in cross-section with a corresponding side of each channel paralleling said common plane in another plane and forming two of said flat strip surfaces which are alined respectively with said holes in said control grid and anode elements, the channels housing filament wire along the length thereof in a cylindrical coil closely adjacent the channel walls concentric with the axis of the channel, and accelerating anode means for accelerating the electrons in said beams toward said phosphor screens, said cathode grid and anode elements being rigidly supported in a unitary assembly.
 8. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 7, wherein said control grid and first anode are each formed of a rectangular non-conductive substrate panel having holes therethrough alined with the axes of each of the respective beams to be formed, lined with an electrically conductive layer of deposited material, the panels being disposed in parallelism with each other and with said flat surface portions and the control grid having a deposited layer of conductive material arranged in a photo-etched pattern of conductive paths communicating with the hole linings for application of separate distinctive control voltages to the linings of the respective holes therein.
 9. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 8, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective electron beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with each said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frame members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.
 10. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 7, wherein said control grid is formed of a rectangular nonconductive substrate panel having said holes therethrough alined respectively with said flat surface portion, said control grid having electrically conductive deposited material lining the holes and connected by photo-etched conductor strips to edge terminals for applying selected potentials to the lining material for individual control of the electron beams.
 11. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 7, including a tubular cylindrical focusing anode for each respective electron beam, said accelerating anode means including a tubular cylinder of corresponding section to and axially alined with each said focusing anode, and a pair of transverse rectangular supporting panels paralleling and spaced forwardly of said first anode for supporting said tubular cylinder and focusing anode in axially alined pairs therebetween, and a plurality of elongated frAme members forming common supports for said grid, first anode and supporting panels.
 12. A cathode ray tube construction as defined in claim 11, including pairs of horizontal and vertical deflecting plates forming rectangular cross-section tubular formations about each respective electron beam and supported in forwardly projecting relation from the forwardmost of said supporting panels.
 13. A cathode ray kinescope tube construction for producing tri-color visible images without a shadow mask, comprising a glass envelope including a neck portion and a faceplate portion, said faceplate portion having a phosphor screen formed of successive vertically arranged horizontal bands each comprising three vertically spaced horizontal strips of a first, second and third color producing phosphor, a single electron gun within said neck portion for producing three electron beams for the three color producing phosphors respectively, said electron gun including a single cathode comprising a pair of joined metallic sheet members each having a plurality of outwardly projecting truncated V-shaped formations collectively defining plural six-sided channels of substantially honeycomb configuration in side elevation providing an elongated, narrow rectilinear planiform flat face paralleling said phosphor screen and spanning the width of the cathode, the channel formation housing a coiled filament wire along the length thereof closely conforming to the cross-section of the channels, a coating of electron emission material on said flat face which is thermally activated to emit electrons for forming the electron beams, control grid and first anode elements in spaced planes paralleling the plane of said flat face and each having three vertically spaced holes providing a hole for each of the respective electron beams for controlling and shaping the electrons emitted by the cathode into three vertically spaced beams to scan along their associated respective phosphor strips, the holes in said grid and first anode elements for each respective electron beam being axially alined along an axis substantially perpendicular to said flat face, electrically conductive material about said holes, means for applying selected electrical potentials to said conductive material for the individual holes, and accelerating anode means for accelerating the electrons in said beams toward said phosphor screens.
 14. A cathode ray tube as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said strips has a width of about 0.018 inch and is spaced about 0.0020 inch from its adjacent strips. 